Sweeping signature. What does your signature say?

Statement: The affairs of a company whose leader has a large signature (which indicates a tendency towards narcissism) are worse than the affairs of companies headed by people with a neat signature.

Study: To determine how executive narcissism—manifested in terms of authoritarianism and an inflated sense of self-importance—affects organizational performance, Nick Seibert and his colleagues studied 605 signatures that CEOs of approximately 400 S&P 500 companies left on annual reports. over the past ten years. Researchers have noticed that organizations run by people with large signatures are clearly guilty of overspending. budget funds, show lower returns on assets and, paradoxically, pay higher salaries to top executives than other comparable companies.

Question: Is it possible to judge the work of a leader by a simple stroke of a pen?

Professor Seibert, defend your idea!

Seibert: Of course, it cannot be said that anyone with a large signature suffers from narcissism and therefore cannot be a good leader. However, a study I conducted with Sean Wang from the University of North Carolina and my colleague Charles Ham from the University of Maryland does show that if under annual report emblazoned with a large signature of the first person, the company typically spends more on research and development, capital goods, and acquisitions than other organizations in the same sector. At the same time, in the next 3-6 years it shows lower dynamics and sales volumes. (We determined the size of a signature by the area of the rectangle in which it could fit, adjusted for the length of the owner's name.) We also recently established a connection between an executive's signature and the number of patents a company has: the larger the signature, the fewer patents. It is clear that this indicates a lack of innovation. Our conclusions are understandable: a sweeping signature indicates a tendency towards narcissism, which manifests itself, in particular, in the fact that the boss imposes his opinion on everyone, ignores criticism or belittles the merits of colleagues - and this does not benefit the business. We also found that the larger the signature, the more money the owner earned compared to those in similar positions at other companies. Perhaps the reason is that narcissistic bosses are good at hiding their mistakes or blaming others.

HBR: You speak confidently about the connection between signature size and narcissism. Is this a reliable indicator?

The most accurate indicator in this case is psychological tests, but not every manager will agree to undergo such testing. You can also observe the behavior of directors, but this method is not suitable for large-scale research: how can you follow hundreds of people?! And, of course, we should not forget that narcissists are masters of disguise. In general, we had to look for another - accessible and at the same time reliable - indicator. We turned to the work of Richard Zweigenhaft of Guildford College, in which he argues that people with high self-esteem and a desire to dominate have large signatures. Since both traits are considered manifestations of narcissism, we decided that it would be appropriate to continue this logical chain. It must be said that when Zweigenhaft saw the results of the study, he conducted a series of experiments on a small sample to check whether this pattern really existed. And everything was confirmed. Other scientists who tried to find a relationship between the chief executive's tendency toward narcissism and the company's performance chose as criteria the size of the director's salary or the size of his photograph in the annual report. However, unlike a signature (which a person signs without thinking), such factors do not always depend on the leader himself.

When printing, can’t the signature on the report be enlarged or reduced, like any picture?

We were interested in this issue and learned that usually the manager signs on a tablet, after which it is digitally transferred to any corporate document. Most companies claim that such a signature is almost the same size as the original and does not change from year to year. When determining the size of the signature, we also took into account the number of name elements included in it. We looked at whether the manager wrote his full name or a diminutive, and whether he included a middle name or initials in his signature. A man named William Christopher Lloyd Gunderson, Jr. received 0 points from us for the signature “Bill,” 1 for “Bill Gunderson,” 3 for “William K. Gunderson,” and 5 for full version first and last name. As a rule, the more elements there were in the signature, the worse the company performed.

Which famous director has the biggest signature and therefore the highest ego?

Case in point: News Corp.'s Rupert Murdoch. We've all heard about him authoritarian style management, and in the recent wiretapping scandal, he blamed others and generally behaved defiantly. Well, his signature is very sweeping.

Many people want to see powerful and confident people in leadership positions. So maybe narcissists have their advantages?

Why not. Take Steve Jobs, for example. Unfortunately, we were unable to find his signature on any of the annual reports, but it is known that he had the characteristics of a narcissist. He did not listen to other people's opinions, often humiliated people, and always stood his ground - for example, contrary to the requests of consumers, he abandoned Adobe Flash and made the iPhone screen out of glass. However, Jobs was also a brilliant visionary and had exceptional taste. Not every narcissist is so lucky. As a rule, people who consider themselves geniuses and are deaf to the opinions of others accept much less good decisions. But even narcissists who have achieved incredible success cause indirect damage to companies through their behavior. Demotivated employees, talent drain, damaged relationships with colleagues in the industry - all this negatively affects the work of the organization, even if everything is in order with its financial indicators. Of course, to become a leader, you need to have a fairly high opinion of own abilities. But we are talking about people whose self-confidence goes beyond all limits.

How to understand that she is crossing all boundaries? Maybe before you hire a manager, you should measure his signature?

The main thing is that the board of directors and investors do not ignore this problem, because a narcissistic leader can bring a lot of trouble. This is especially important for young companies that invest significant funds in development - here one wrong decision can lead to disaster. If the signs we are talking about are present, the company's management should especially closely monitor how decisions are made, as well as monitor the level of profitability and the remuneration system. And what’s easier than looking at a signature - in it a person subconsciously expresses his inner self. Most likely, after reading our article, many will think about this. And someone may decide to intentionally sign smaller.

What is your signature?

It falls in the 20th percentile of executive signatures we looked at in our study, although the results psychological tests My narcissism score is only slightly below the average for men. Perhaps my signature gives an understated picture of my ego. I think that senior executives in general tend to be more narcissistic than average men.

Each of us comes up with a signature for ourselves, thereby revealing our true essence to others. It would seem, what could be hidden behind an ordinary stroke? It turns out that you can learn a lot from a signature useful information about a person’s character, his preferences and lifestyle. We don’t really think about it when we leave our “autograph” on paper. But this is a confirmation of our personality in every sense. Let's try to uncover the secrets of graphology and find out how a signature determines our character.

There is a whole algorithm by which a personal psychological portrait of a person is compiled based on his signature. We will not delve too deeply into graphology and will only touch on the most important aspects of signature writing, by which personality traits are determined.

By signature size one can judge a person's thinking. If the signature is sweeping, this is a sign of a flexible mind. The owner of such a signature always thinks big, looks at the situation from different angles and always tries to come to an objective conclusion. If the signature is quite compact, this means that its owner thinks concretely and often does not try to understand the essence of events.

Long signature indicates depth of thinking, patience and even tediousness. Such a person likes to delve into details. A short signature is a sign of quick thinking and quick wits. Such people absorb only the information they need and do not like to delve into the essence.

Letter writing type can also tell a lot of interesting things about the essence of a person. If the letters in the signature are round, this is a sign of an open nature, sociability, kindness and peace of mind. Angular letters are a sign of an irritable character, stubbornness and lack of tact.

Letter spacing can tell you about your attitude towards money. A long distance indicates extravagance. If all the letters are pressed tightly against each other, then this can mean greed, frugality, economy.

Signature slant- this is one of the most important criteria characteristics of a person. A tilt to the left reveals a person’s willfulness and desire for independence. Tilt to the right is a sign of balance and adequate perception of yourself and the world around you. If all the letters in the signature are written straight, that is, they do not have a slope, then this is a sign of self-control, high intelligence and straightforwardness. If all the letters in the signature have a different slant, then this is a sign of insincerity and deceit. If the letters have a very strong slant, no matter in which direction, then its owner has serious psychological problems.

Some signatures are also characterized by elements decorating it. If there are loops in it, then this is a sign of caution. Circle – anxiety and fixation on problems. Curls and other non-standard elements in the signature indicate a creative nature.

Finishing touch the signature indicates the worldview and mood of its owner. If the stroke is directed upward, it is a sign of optimism. Down is a sign of a pessimistic nature. If the stroke goes straight, then the owner of the signature is a balanced person who can be sad and have fun.

By the nature of the underline signatures can determine a person’s attitude towards himself. If the signature is underlined at the top, it is a sign of ambition and vanity. Below – increased pride, egocentrism and dependence on someone else’s point of view. If the signature is crossed out in the middle, then this indicates low self-esteem.

The last thing you can pay attention to is signature complexity and legibility. The clearer the signature, the more open he is to communication. If the signature is too simple, then this reveals excessive carelessness in the person. If it consists of many complex elements and is difficult to decipher, then its owner is a restless, tense and suspicious person. Original signature indicates a creative person.

A person's signature, like his handwriting, is the key to his essence. It is not for nothing that many American personnel services have introduced an interview system new test, as a result of which the character and personal qualities of a person are revealed based on his signature and handwriting. This is a great way to learn more about yourself and the people around you. If you found this information useful, click on and

24.08.2013 13:00

It's no secret that the Zodiac Sign leaves its mark on a person. People related...

How many times do we come across signatures throughout our lives? different people. Beautiful, careless, funny, original... Have you ever wondered why everyone’s signature is different? What is the character of the owner of the signature? The Land of Soviets will tell what does a person's signature say?.

Each person develops his own handwriting style. When a person writes, he thinks about spelling, about the evenness of the lines, obeying certain rules. Therefore, it is not always possible to read his true “I” correctly and accurately. But the signature does not at all restrain a person’s imagination; the author of the signature is not limited by any laws or rules. But in his graphic delights he is subject to certain patterns that involuntarily reflect the essence of his nature, which allows him to quite accurately describe the psychological portrait of the author of the signature.

So let's get started. We look at the person’s signature and analyze it.

Signature direction

Pay attention to whether the end of the signature is facing up, straight, or down. If up- this indicates that the person is full of energy and strength, optimism prevails in his character. The author of such a signature copes with problems and disappointments quite easily. Forward direction The signature indicates a balance between optimism and pessimism in the character. If the end of the signature is directed down– a person is susceptible to a pessimistic state and depression. Such people have weakness of will, a tendency to cardiovascular and nervous diseases.

Signature length

Long signature human nature is inherent in thorough people, unhurried, accustomed to delving deeply into matters. Such people are usually stubborn, persistent, even boring and picky. Short signature put by people with quick reactions, who sometimes do not have the patience for a deep and detailed analysis of cases. Such a person does not like slow people; he himself is not capable of monotonous and monotonous work that requires constant attention. It must be borne in mind that some people are forced to put a short signature. These are people of those professions who are forced to sign very often - cashiers, doctors, etc. They have to put a short signature in order to save time or space on paper. Therefore, their actual signature should be considered for analysis.

Size of letters (capital and small)

If the size of capital letters varies greatly in size from small ones, then we can say that the author of such a signature is capricious and picky about others. If the letters in the signature are practically same size, then the owner of such a signature has no claims to life and is modest. At all small letters they speak of a specific and rational person who is able to concentrate, but very small letters indicate stinginess, pettiness and selfishness of the owner.

Large letters, almost childish, characterize the author from the point of view of naivety and kindness, as a gullible and impractical person. But at the same time, such a person strives for freedom of activity and independence.

Roundness and sharpness of letters

Rounded letters are drawn in the signature as soft, calm and kind people. Angular letters, on the contrary, indicate an aggressive character, independent and stubborn, and speak of a tendency towards ambition and leadership.

Sometimes you can see the following nuance in the signature: at the beginning the letters are rounded, and then angular. Analysis of such a signature indicates that at the beginning of communication a person shows himself to be soft, and then his aggressive traits appear.

Connectedness and disconnection of letters

If in the signature all letters are connected to each other, this indicates the consistency and logic inherent in the brain activity of this person. He is conservative in his views and has difficulty accepting anything new.

When it is observed in the signature moderate number of breaks between the letters, this indicates that the owner of such a signature knows how to combine the desired and the actual. Solid breaks between the letters in the signature characterize the author as an unpredictable person who loves to impress others and attract attention. The confidence and uncertainty of writing letters speaks for itself.

Various decorations in the signature

The more there will be in the signature various decorations, ribbons, curls - the more superficial and insincere there is in this person. But sometimes an embellished signature can also be found in people of creative professions, with rich fantasy and imagination. Simple signature person speaks of the author’s modesty and simplicity. In persons with a logical mindset, in physicists and mathematicians, in the signature Some parts of letters may “disappear”, which shows the concreteness of thinking. But if in such a signature there is a gap between the letters, then this is a clear sign of fussiness and short-sighted thinking.

Sweeping

Sweeping signature posed by strategists who think globally. Such signatures can be seen among major managers of enterprises or companies. Small signature have tactical people whose brains are occupied with a specific and specific type of activity.

Pressure when writing letters

Bold pressed lines they speak about the good physical strength of the owner of the signature. Usually these people are extroverts - they are sociable, energetic, and focused on the outside world. Subtle signature A person whose lines become the thickness of a hair indicates a gentle nature. It is difficult for these people to engage in social activities, because... they are focused on their inner world.

If signature thickness is uneven and weak, then the author of the signature also has a doubtful character; such people are unsure of themselves, constantly hesitate in their decisions, and tend to “eat” themselves.

Normal, even pressure belongs to people who are confident, balanced, and accustomed to making decisions thoughtfully.

Underlines in signatures, tails, strikethroughs

Surely there will be signatures that underlined by the author below. Such people are very touchy, they are proud and dependent on the opinions of others. If a person's signature covered by a line from above, this suggests that its owner is proud of himself, vain and strives for great achievements. Of great interest is "tail" at the end of the signature. How longer tail, the more intolerant he subscribed to comments addressed to him, to various orders, etc. Such a person is very careful and prudent.

If a person crosses out his signature, then he is dissatisfied with himself, he is too self-critical and nervous. He always hesitates and doubts.

Dot in signature

Dot in signature– a positive sign. Its presence indicates discipline and the desire to complete all tasks. Dot at the end signatures - diligence, at the beginning– good and thoughtful preparation for starting a business.

Load in the signature

How the signature is more loaded person and the more complex it is, the more problems its owner creates for himself. They say about such people: “They make mountains out of molehills.” And of course, the simpler the signature, the more simply a person approaches problems. Simple and unsophisticated people can generally write their last name instead of a signature. And the more complexities are introduced into the signature, the more complex the author’s nature.

Slant letters

Direct spelling letters testifies to the restrained, consistent, stubborn character of a person who has self-control. In this case there is a dominant influence of the mind.

Common right-hand signature a person speaks of the ability to understand and compromise. But the letters almost lying on the right side “scream” about some pathological phenomenon. Left-handed signature of a person indicates a discrepancy between personal natural inclinations and inclinations and the external conditions of upbringing. This is characterized by stubbornness, demandingness, secrecy, and sometimes insincerity.

It’s more difficult when the letters are slanted in one signature different types. Such people are capricious, impetuous, unstable, scattered in their goals. It is better to be careful with these people in general affairs and relationships.

Different types of signatures from the same person

For example, the same person subscribes sometimes neatly, sometimes carelessly. This indicates that a person is selective towards others. For someone who is of interest to him, he will try to show his best side, and vice versa. Whoever is not interesting to him, he will treat these people carelessly.

Signature changes over time

Because a person’s signature is a reflection of his inner world Naturally, it changes over time, just like the person himself (age leaves its mark on character, views on problems, etc.). The signature may also change due to a woman’s marriage and may reflect any emotional changes in her personal life. In a word, if a person improves and develops, the signature indicates this. And if a person degrades, the signature also degrades.

A person's signature can tell a lot about its owner. Graphological analysis, as a method of personality psychodiagnostics, will help you get to know a person a little more and allow you to determine his life values and guidelines. It will be much easier for you to communicate with someone from whom you know what to expect. Good luck with your experiments!

A. Farmagay

What can a signature say?

Handwriting is connected with the whole being of a person,
with the conditions of his life, work, with his nervous system,
therefore, our manner of writing bears the same undoubted stamp
individuality, like everything we come into contact with.

Goethe

In our computer age, people write with pen less and less, but they still sign documents, statements and other places. However, you should not neglect the knowledge of how to determine character by signature.

A signature is a particularly clearly developed conditioned reflex movement, which remains unchanged even with some organic lesions of the brain, as a result of which the entire handwriting suffers. A signature is a kind of reflection of a bunch of everything that is in a person, his natural seal, expressing all of nature.

As a rule, a person has several signature options - a primary, or “front” signature, which is used for particularly important documents (for example, for business contracts or a registry office), and a secondary one.

The ceremonial version of the signature is of greatest interest for graphological analysis.

How to determine a person's character by signature

So let's start with measurements. Pay attention to the overall length of the person's signature and compare it with the length of his own surname written in his handwriting.

If the length of the signature significantly (by one third or more) exceeds the length of the surname written under the same conditions, then we can say that this person has an inflated self-esteem and level of ambition. In addition, in this case we may be talking about the presence of such a quality as hidden disdain towards other people, especially those who occupy a lower social and material position.

A signature that is shorter than the last name indicates a lack of self-esteem, an underestimation of one’s skills and achievements. In addition, a short signature may indicate a weakened physical condition, excessive modesty, sometimes reaching the point of timidity.

However, everything said above regarding a short signature does not apply to people whose capital letter, symbolizing the first letter of their surname or initials, has a disproportionately increased vertical size. If the height of a capital letter is 2.5 or more times the height of an ordinary letter lowercase letter, then we are talking about the presence of such qualities as inflated ambition, organizational skills, sometimes despotism, and reluctance to delve into the intricacies of problems. People whose signature consists of one or two tall letters, without a long stroke, have, as a rule, learned to give guidelines, but do not know and do not want to know how and at what cost this instruction can be carried out (Fig. 1).

Figure 1.

Consider a signature option that has a normal length and consists of the following elements:

1) initials - one or more letters indicating the first letter of the last name, first name, patronymic;

2) letters, elements, signs that are letters of a real surname or simply reflect them;

3) final stroke or stroke;

4) additional elements.

Measure the height of the capital letters and compare it to the height of the lowercase letters in your signature.

If the height of capital letters is two times or more higher than the height of lowercase letters (Fig. 5.2), then the owner of the signature is an ambitious, self-confident person, and to some extent can be difficult in an argument, since he considers his opinion to be the only correct one. He must have well-developed communication skills, the ability to organize work and be responsible for its implementation.

But at the same time, such a person is concerned about the problems of his environment or subordinates only in those cases when he is financially dependent on them or he needs executors of his ideas. Individuals with this signature option are, as a rule, active, energetic and selfish natures who do not want to put up with everyday life, often self-centered. A stroke returning from below to the beginning of the signature can also speak of selfishness and distrust of others.

Figure 2.

Capital letters that are too small, approximately the same height as lowercase letters, or even smaller, indicate low self-esteem, often lack of self-confidence, and some mental weaknesses.

Normally, the capital letters of a signature should be approximately one third larger than the lowercase letters.

The second part of the signature may be capital letters surnames, part of these letters or some repeating elements that replace them (Fig. 3).

Figure 3.

If there are many such repeating elements, they have sufficient amplitude, equal to the height of the lowercase letter, and are written with medium or strong pressure, then the author of the signature has good mental and physical energy, as a rule, is physically and mentally resilient, can work for a long time and productively in an atmosphere of increased stress. nervous tension. Such people have good logical thinking, are active, and have the ability to see the future in all its diversity.

If this repeating element consists of several small zigzags (Fig. 5.4) and is written with weak pressure (it would be better if this element did not exist at all), then we need to pay attention to the reduced level of a person’s resistance to stressful situations, a weak reserve of physical strength and, possibly, , nervous exhaustion.

An element such as a stroke says a lot about a person in his signature.

The great Russian graphologist D.M. Zuev-Insarov at the beginning of the 20th century. wrote that a signature that does not have a stroke, as a rule, belongs to a cultured person who has good taste. French graphologist A. Varinard in the 20s of the XX century. drew attention to the fact that out of forty members of the French Academy of Sciences, thirty-nine have a very simple signature, some without a stroke at all. L. Tolstoy, V. Solovyov, N. Bekhterev and many other scientists and writers had a similar simple signature.

A signature that ends with a stroke falling at an angle of approximately 90 degrees (Fig. 5.3) may belong to a person who knows how to make tough, sometimes unpopular decisions. If this is the signature of the boss, then it can be argued that he is rarely interested in the cost of achieving the result.

On the other hand, individuals whose signatures end with such a stroke are energetic, active, decisive and courageous.

Uzbek graphologist Hayk Nadzh (Oybek Kadyrovich Nadzhimov) in his book “How to recognize a person by his signature, or Practical graphology” writes that vertical strokes at the end of the signature indicate the inability to independently complete the task, the need for control and support from the outside.

Figure 4.

A wavy stroke (Fig. 5) may indicate a person’s diplomacy, the ability to find reasonable compromises, and the desire to smooth out conflicts. At the same time, if such strokes have a pronounced horizontal amplitude, then we can talk about a tendency to please, to fawn over the boss and more socially significant people. You probably know people who “live near management” in order to run for vodka and cut sausage. Look at their signatures, it is likely that some of them end with just such falling wavy lines. However, such people are often quite active, mobile, and have a cheerful disposition. They sometimes approach issues superficially.

Figure 5.

The stroke is straight, clear, horizontal (Fig. 6) belongs to people who do not like to let strangers into their inner world unnecessarily. They are more secretive than open. At the same time, they do not give the impression of closed, uncommunicative personalities.

Figure 6.

Owners of such a finishing touch, especially if it is not strictly horizontal, but directed somewhat upward, almost always finish the job they have started. If a straight horizontal stroke at the end turns down and to the left, then this is evidence of stubbornness in achieving goals, especially personally significant ones, as well as quite pronounced egoism. A stroke in the form of horizontal zigzags may belong to an energetic and active person.

Quite rarely there is a stroke that has the shape of a semicircle, turned up and to the left (Fig. 7). We can say that such a person is a dreamer. This is not connected with a tendency to deceive, it is a kind of desire to get into children's fairy tales...

Figure 7.

An analysis of its general direction plays a major role in interpreting a signature.

Thus, a signature rising upward (centrifugal), in which the beginning is visually lower on the sheet than its end (Fig. 8), is evidence of such qualities as optimism, vitality, energy, ambition, and good mood.

Figure 8.

But if the signature is too directed upward, and the angle of inclination exceeds 40 degrees from the horizontal axis, then we can talk about a superficial attitude to important problems, disorganization, self-confidence, and an increased level of egoism.

A signature directed downwards (falling down) objectively indicates a depressive nature, the weakness of its nervous and mental energy, the inability at times to defend one’s point of view, pessimism and dissatisfaction.

If such a signature is also made with weak pressure, we may be talking about a weakened immune system or some kind of somatic disease, usually associated with dysfunction of the liver and gastrointestinal tract. When writing with different types or uneven pressure, we can talk about problems of the cardiovascular system.

A strictly horizontal signature characterizes a balanced person, constant in his affections. Such people are restrained, consistent, with good self-control.

Many people add final additional touches or elements to their signature that are not connected by lines to the signature itself.

For example, a signature ending with a period is an indicator of a person’s propensity for introspection (Fig. 5.8). He evaluates his actions from the point of view of the rules and norms established by himself and (or) society. Accordingly, he makes amendments and adjustments to his behavior. As a rule, such people do not repeat the same mistake twice.

Ike Naj, whom we mentioned, believes that the period at the end of the signature is a positive sign. Its presence testifies to discipline and the ability to complete the work started.

However, if after the dot some other signs appear, for example a dash and another dot (Fig. 9), then this indicates distrust, suspicion, and excessive caution.

Figure 9.

An increase in the number of such signs in the signature indicates abnormal personality development, an increase in the listed negative qualities, which take on a painful nature. In addition, people who put several dots, dashes and other signs after the signature itself often develop obsessive ideas and states.

Underlining the signature at the bottom (Fig. 8), as D.M. Zuev-Insarov wrote, is found in the signatures of English lords and is an indicator of the presence of self-esteem.

In the case where there are two, three or more such traits, we can talk about painful ambition, sometimes wounded, negative personality development, and strong resentment.

In some cases, the signature is covered by a bar at the top (Fig. 10). What character emerges from the signature in this case? This option may indicate a person’s desire to find peace of mind and some inner balance. In most cases, this concerns personal life.

Figure 10.

In addition, individuals who sign this way are proud, strive for great achievements, and have good taste. Sometimes they are vain. If such people become bosses, they should be afraid of flattery, because those who flatter can easily gain trust with bad intentions.

In the case when a person crosses out his signature (Fig. 11), we can talk about his lack of self-confidence, constant doubts, and sometimes a tendency towards neuroses.

Figure 11.

There are also very sophisticated signatures (Fig. 12). They are decorated with all sorts of curls, arcs, titles, which harmoniously fit into the signature, visually make it more beautiful, but at the same time are superfluous. The more such decorations, the more demonstrative and sometimes hysterical qualities a person has, superficial and ostentatious in behavior. Such people are usually selfish and require increased, unjustified attention. External forms are important to them. As a rule, they never delve into the depths of the problem, but know a lot superficially. Owners of such signatures also have well-developed communication skills. At the same time, their whole nature is aimed at gaining recognition from others. In addition, the more additional elements in the signature, the more the author has imagination, artistic taste, resourcefulness and resourcefulness, loves narcissism to the detriment of business, is easily distracted, is susceptible to suggestion and is fickle.

Figure 12.

When analyzing a signature, you need to pay attention to the spelling of the initial letters.

If the initial letter of the signature corresponds to the initial letter of the surname, then we can talk about simplicity, perhaps about the modesty of a person, about the correspondence of his requests to real possibilities.

If the initial letter is intricate, representing a combination of initials (including favorite persons), it means isolation, secrecy. Such people are distrustful and selective in friendship.

Mikhail Storozhev claims that a florid, overly decorated signature speaks of extravagance and ardor; simple - about prudence and courage; zigzag - about energy; cobweb - about dexterity in business and isolation; similar to a corkscrew - about observation and cunning.

Character by signature: typology

One of the modern graphologists, Viktor Garanin, provides a unique typology of characters by signature.

Egoist-altruist. The signature is clear and the letters that make it up can be read. The author is capable of self-sacrifice and subconsciously strives to be understood by others. And vice versa: an illegible signature characterizes an egoist who is not bothered by the opinions of others.

A miser and a spender. The degree of generosity can be determined by the distance between the letters. If it is significant, then you have a spendthrift. If the letters in the signature “overlap” each other, then this indicates economy, and even stinginess. You can also find out when a person is more generous: immediately after receiving money or later. It depends on in which part of the signature the distance between letters is greater - at the beginning or at the end.

Theorist-practitioner. Mentally divide the signature in half. The first half shows a tendency towards mental activity, the second towards practical (physical). If there are two or three capital letters at the beginning of the signature, in the absence of large formations in the second part, we can say with confidence that the person gives preference to mental work. If it’s the other way around, you have a pure practitioner in front of you.

Freedom-loving-dependent. By the length of the tails (strokes) at the end of the signature, one can judge how a person reacts to attempts to interfere in his affairs. The longer the stroke, the more intolerant the author is to orders and comments addressed to him. Short ponytails characteristic of the signatures of obedient, easily influenced people.

Good-evil. Kind, calm people have more rounded letters in their signatures than hot-tempered and irritable people. Angular letters speak of a desire for independence, aggression, leadership, and ambition.

Idealist-pragmatist. Small letters characterize a rational, down-to-earth and petty person. Capital letters - dreamy, naive, trusting.

Tactician-strategist. The owners of the sweeping signature are strategists; they think globally, combinatorially, systematically, without going into details. These are often major leaders and public figures. A compact, small signature is usually reserved for tacticians whose minds are occupied with specific types of activities, i.e. "workhorses".

Secretive and talkative. If at the beginning of the signature the letters are large and then decline or turn into a wavy line, it means that its author is secretive and diplomatic. For those who do not know how to keep secrets, on the contrary, the signature begins with small letters, and towards the end of the signature they increase.

I think that the reader will be of some interest in the information about the signature as the quintessence of handwriting, which Ike Naj provides.

A long signature characterizes a non-fuss, meticulous and even boring type. Short - impatient and superficial.
If the first half of the autograph is more intense than the second, the author of the signature is prone to mental work; he is a theorist, not a practitioner. And vice versa. In general, a complex, loaded autograph is a sign that a person is complicating everything, making mountains out of molehills.
The larger the letter that begins the signature (in comparison with others), the more capricious and vain the author.
A small signature is a sign of rationality, selfishness and stinginess. Large is characteristic of a person who is impractical, gullible, naive, but at the same time independent. In addition, the more compact the autograph, the more specific its author thinks. Dreamers and strategists sign with a flourish.
Roundness indicates softness of nature and balance. Angular, sharp elements indicate irritability, hot temper, intolerance, stubbornness and the desire to assert oneself.
Letters connected to each other are characteristic of a consistent, logical, but conservative type. Gaps in the signature indicate unpredictability and loyalty to everything new.
A simple person has a simple signature. And curls and vignettes are “symptoms” of a creative nature, artistic taste, but sometimes also boastfulness, selfishness, and the desire to appear better than one is. Overly elaborate signatures are typical for schizophrenics.
The more the letters are spaced apart (no matter whether they are connected or not), the more generous the person is.
Bold lines and blots are evidence of confidence, strength, characteristic of extroverts. And on the contrary, than thinner line, the more refined, more insecure, and more withdrawn a person is.
The longer the stroke at the end of the signature, the more independent the person is and the more intolerant of advice. A stroke in the form of a zigzag or wave is a sign of a cheerful, active character, while a straight and abrupt stroke is evidence of energy, courage and even toughness. Well-mannered, cultured, but somewhat infantile people sign without a flourish.
Elements that look like vertical lines at the beginning of the signature mean a lack of imagination and intellect. The vertical line in the middle of the autograph indicates slowness in the transition to the implementation of the idea. At the end - difficulties in completing things.
“Jumping” signatures are characteristic of people who are emotional to the point of being uncontrollable. Smooth - reserved.
Secretive, capricious and independent types sign by “looping”, drawing ovals and circles.
The dot in the signature is a sign of discipline. If a person puts it after the first initial, he is one of those who measures seven times and only then cuts. If the dot is placed at the end of the autograph, the person is efficient and responsible, he brings the work he has started to the end.
If the signature contains identical, symmetrical elements (for example, it ends the same way it begins), its author is a harmonious person who knows how to make compromises and does not get tired of monotonous work. However, he is very susceptible to obsessive ideas and thoughts, he is full of all sorts of habits, including bad ones, musical melodies constantly cling to him, etc.
Latin letters in signatures are used by eccentric originals, as well as “Westerners” and teenagers who have watched enough of MTV.
If a person, having written some part of the signature, goes back and adds something else, in life he is inclined to return to the past, delve into it, analyze, try to correct something. He is dissatisfied with what he has done and time after time strives to reach the limit of perfection.
If a person combines two or three initials into one, he manages his affairs in the same way - he does two or three at a time.
The presence of initials in both a first and last name indicates efficiency, responsibility, and thoughtfulness. If only the “family” initial is present, the person is modest, he does not have inflated demands, he does not stick out his “I”.
The numbers in the signature are a rare element, revealing an extremely suspicious, cautious, distrustful type, prone to neuropsychic illnesses.
And finally, the talk of the town - the signature is illegible! This is exactly what it is like among egoists and daredevils who do not care how others perceive their actions.

Thus, by analyzing a person’s signature, you can obtain a fairly wide range of information about him and you can influence this person in the interests of a joint cause, for example, not hiring someone whose psychological qualities do not correspond to the norms defined in the team.

However, it should be noted that it is possible to determine character from a signature, but such an analysis provides a negligibly small amount of information about a person compared to what can be obtained by conducting a study of handwriting as a whole.

The signature reflects the author’s character, his inner nature, way of thinking, and can tell about his emotional and mental state, worldview. Unlike handwriting and conventional writing style, where a person follows certain patterned spelling rules that he was taught at school, he comes up with a signature for himself. Here he can fully express his individuality and even try to present himself from the best side. However, graphic improvisation also has its own decoding and is subject to special patterns, so graphological analysis allows you to accurately determine how sincere a person is and how he relates to himself and others.

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Features of graphological analysis

Graphology is a science that studies the connection between writing style and a person’s character. Scientists have found that while writing, the brain sends special impulses to the hand, as a result of which feelings, emotions and thoughts spill out onto the paper. Deciphering a signature has been a mandatory procedure when applying for a job in Europe for several decades. In Israel, signatures of civil servants are analyzed; in Germany, signatures of newlyweds wishing to get married are analyzed.

The analysis is used in areas such as:

business;
pedagogy;
sport:
medicine;
psychology;
criminology;
pedagogy.

Deciphering one's own signature allows a person to get to know himself better, identify hidden talents and see shortcomings. To practically master graphology, constant practice is required, so it is advisable to analyze your personal strokes at the very beginning, and then the signatures of your best friends or relatives. This will allow you to compare the obtained data with the visible characteristics of a person and analyze possible errors.

An accurate transcript of the signature can be obtained using the following tips:

1. Make an analysis of the constituent elements (shape, size of letters, connectivity, etc.).

2. Assess the signature as a whole (legibility, pressure, slant, etc.).

3. Compare all the data received and draw up an accurate psychological portrait, using the method of logical chains, that is, draw a conclusion not on the basis of a single element, but on the basis of all the details as a whole.

When deciphering a signature, it is necessary to take into account what type it belongs to: official or personal. People who, due to the nature of their work, often have to sign various documents (cashiers, bankers, civil servants, etc.), in order to save space and speed of writing, use an official signature. There is no point in analyzing it, since it was invented for practical purposes and does not reflect individual characteristics. A personal signature, on the contrary, contains the maximum amount of reliable information about the owner.

Characteristics of the constituent elements

The most complete and accurate information can be obtained from a signature written on an unlined sheet of paper with a pencil or fountain pen, since if these rules are followed, pressure and tilt will be clearly visible.

As an alternative, use a gel pen, preferably black.

Shape and size of letters

The shape of the letters can determine the softness or hardness of the author’s character. Round letters speak of the author’s gentleness, his ability to compromise, responsiveness, and lack of conflict. Such a person can become an excellent diplomat or peacemaker. Angular letters indicate hot temper, harshness, intolerance, irritability. Such a person strives for independence, is stubborn, ambitious, and prone to aggression.

The signature has rounded letters on the left, pointed letters on the right

There are signatures of a mixed type, with rounded and pointed letters at the same time. Their location allows you to find out how a person behaves at a particular stage of a relationship. Rounded capital letters at the beginning, followed by angular ones at the end, indicate that at first meeting the person is gentle, but upon closer examination he turns out to be harsh and stubborn. In the opposite version (angular letters at the beginning and rounded at the end), the author of the signature can immediately show aggression, but over a long period of communication he becomes soft and flexible.

The size of the capital letter will tell about the self-esteem of the owner. If the first letter is 2.5 times higher than the lowercase ones, this indicates the author’s high self-esteem, his ambition, desire to dominate, selfishness and self-centeredness. Such a person considers his opinion to be the only correct one, so it is impossible to convince him of anything. Character strengths include good communication and organizational skills, which help a person achieve career heights. The author of the signature is energetic, active, knows how to organize work and bear responsibility for its implementation.

Capital letter too big

A large capital letter indicates that a person is interested only in those people on whom he financially depends or whom he wants to use for selfish purposes (as an executor of his ideas). If the first letter is lower than lowercase, this indicates low self-esteem and the presence of complexes that interfere with a full life. The ideal proportion is when the capital letter is one third higher than the lowercase letters: such a person has adequate self-esteem, realistically assesses his capabilities, and does not place excessive demands on others.

A very small signature indicates the owner’s selfishness and stinginess. If you can see vertical elements in the middle, this is the result of a previous illness (heart attack, stroke) or the consequences of severe stress. Example:

Large letters speak of the breadth of a person’s soul, his sincerity and openness, his desire for independence and activity. If the letters are large and appearance The signature resembles a child's; the author is characterized by daydreaming, naivety, excessive gullibility, and lack of practical spirit. Small ones are a sign of an economical, thrifty, rational person.

Connection of letters and distance between them

If all the letters in the signature are connected to each other, this indicates the logical nature of mental activity. Such a person is conservative by nature and has difficulty accepting anything new. He thinks in stereotypes and prefers to follow the beaten path.

Continuous writing

A moderate number of gaps between letters indicates the owner’s good adaptation to new conditions and flexibility of thinking. The author of the signature is a person who lives in harmony with himself and the world around him, adequately assesses his capabilities and does not demand much from others.

Moderate amount of whitespace

An excessive number of spaces between letters indicates the author’s unpredictability, his dreaminess, and his desire to stand out from the crowd. He tries with all his might to attract attention and make an impression, sometimes committing rash acts.

Lots of spaces

Combinatorics in a signature, i.e. the merging of two adjacent letters, when part of one is a continuation of the other (as shown in the photo below), indicates that a person is accustomed to optimizing his activities and is able to do several things at the same time. He will not waste time on solving an insignificant task, but will wait until there are enough of them to complete them all together. Such people are sanguine by temperament, and much less often phlegmatic.

Combinatorics example

By the distance between the letters you can determine the degree of generosity of the author. If the letters in the signature are narrow and located close to each other, the person is very thrifty, economical and sometimes stingy. If the distance is significant, the person is prone to squandering and is able to spend everything on himself and his loved ones.

Additional items

TO additional elements include such optional but eloquent details as:

foreign letters;
numbers;
dots;
vertical lines;
repeating or identical elements;
decorations.

Foreign letters may appear in the signature for the following reasons:

the author wants to stand out and be original, which is especially characteristic of young people;
he is interested in learning foreign languages;
a person is characterized by independence in views;
The author is an embassy officer or diplomat who has to deal with two different cultures on a daily basis.

Examples of signatures with foreign letters

The figures alarm graphologists because they indicate a tendency to neuropsychiatric diseases. The author of such a signature is suspicious, distrustful, cautious, and critical of himself and others.

Numbers at the end of the signature

Dots in a signature are a positive sign that indicates the author’s discipline and self-control. If such an element is at the end, it means that the person is used to finishing what he started; if in the middle, he collects maximum comprehensive information before starting to implement his plan.

Signatures with dots

Vertical lines in graphology are identified with a barrier, slowdown, brake, so their presence indicates:

poverty of imagination, intellectual and creative activity, if they are located at the very beginning;
difficulties in implementing the idea if the line is in the middle;.
reluctance and inability to complete what has been started, if located at the end of the signature.

Vertical lines at the beginning and end of signatures

Repeating elements in the signature indicate the owner’s determination, perseverance and ability to do routine and monotonous work. Such people often experience obsessive thoughts: for example, a melody plays in their head for a long time after listening to a song or the same idea comes to mind. Symmetrical elements like two identical horizontal or vertical stripes they talk about the author’s harmonious nature, his ability to make compromises, stable character, and reliability.

Repeating and symmetrical elements in one signature

A huge number of different decorations in the form of ribbons, circles, curls, strokes, etc. speaks of the owner’s boasting and hypocrisy. In order to appear in a favorable light in front of others, he can lie about his successes or even invent non-existent achievements and merits along the way. Such a person should not be taken at his word, since most of his story is a complete lie.

Signature with a lot of ridiculous decorations

If the signature, although decorated, looks harmonious and beautiful, this indicates the author’s well-developed imaginative thinking, his ability to see something new and surprising in ordinary things. Such signatures are found among people whose profession is related to creativity: musicians, artists, composers, actors, singers, designers, etc.

The predominance of unnecessary elements is an alarming sign for graphologists: this is how people with mental disabilities sign their names. The number of dots and strokes increases depending on the degree of development of their painful condition. During the period of exacerbation of the disease there are a lot of them, but after the obsessive state passes (after a course of treatment or taking medications), the signature becomes normal and laconic.

Signature of a person with mental disabilities

Flourish

A stroke is the final stroke of a signature, which may be clearly expressed or completely absent.

Types of strokes:

Description	Example
If the signature ends with a falling wavy vertical line, then such a person knows how to smooth out conflicts, find a compromise, has a sense of tact, and innate diplomacy
A stroke similar to the previous one, but with a more pronounced horizontal amplitude, speaks of the author’s desire to please people of higher status or social position (boss, management, rich acquaintances, etc.). Sometimes such a finishing touch indicates the owner’s energy, mobility, cheerful disposition and superficial attitude towards things.
A straight, even, horizontal stroke is a sign of a closed and secretive person who does not allow anyone to intrude into his personal life. The paradox is that such a person gives the impression of being very sociable, sincere and open, but in reality he clearly keeps his distance and does not talk about personal problems and feelings
The final stroke in the form of a semicircle indicates the author's dreaminess. Such a person loves to fantasize and lives in a world of illusions
If the stroke is presented in the form of a “tail,” that is, a straight line going horizontally or at an upward slope, you need to pay attention to its length: the longer it is, the more intolerant its author is to comments addressed to him and orders from others. Such a person does not tolerate interference in his personal life and does not like to obey
A stroke in the form of a line located above the signature is possessed by charismatic, self-confident people who are driven by pride and vanity in achieving their goals. They want to be useful to society and do their best to prove to themselves and others that they can achieve high results. Such people make good politicians, businessmen and leaders
The signature in the form of an underline at the bottom speaks of determination, great ambitions, selfishness, and dependence on the opinions of others. In implementing his grandiose plans, a person relies on his life experience
If the line below is not one, but several of them at once, then this is a sign of harshness, stubbornness, complexes associated with the discrepancy between the intellectual capabilities of the position occupied
The crossed out signature speaks of the excessive self-criticism of the author, who is engaged in self-examination and introspection. He is not confident in himself and doubts the correctness of his actions. Such people often have problems with nervous and digestive systems, there is vegetative-vascular dystonia
If at the end of the signature the author returns to the beginning, that is, he connects the beginning and the end, this indicates his penchant for perfectionism and analysis. Having completed his work, a person often has a desire to redo, modify, improve something.

Determining character by the general appearance of the signature

When you first look at the signature, you need to pay attention to its legibility. If it is easy to read, simple and understandable, then its author is a person who wants to be understood by others. The simpler the signature, the more open, sincere and simple-minded its owner is.

If the signature is not readable at all, the person does not care about the opinions of others and does not care what impression he makes. Most often these are selfish, wayward people who have their own point of view on many things.

Examples of clear and illegible signatures

If the author indicates his name in the signature, he values his independence, individuality, does not pay attention to established traditions, and considers himself a separate unit from the family. The surname in the signature indicates the person’s dependence on social status, commitment to traditions and family values. Such a person can sacrifice his personal life for the sake of his career and the interests of others. A woman who, after marriage, began to place great emphasis on her new surname in her signature, is highly dependent on her husband and seems to be hiding behind his back.

If the first letter of the signature corresponds to the author’s last name, this indicates his modesty and the ability to really assess his strength. If the initial letter corresponds to the name, this is a sign of efficiency, thoughtfulness, and the presence of an entrepreneurial spirit.

Length

A long signature speaks of the owner’s perseverance, assertiveness, and desire to delve into the essence of the matter. Such a person is diligent, diligent, able to perform monotonous and routine work, and is distinguished by self-discipline. Negative traits include pickiness and tediousness.

A short signature is a sign of quick reaction, superficial perception of information, restlessness, and haste. By temperament, such a person is choleric, therefore he does not tolerate slow people and does not like to wait. He gets annoyed by people who can't do everything as fast as he can.

There is a variant of a short signature, as if enclosed in a circle. This is a sign of isolation, secrecy and willfulness of the owner, who needs a sufficient amount of freedom, independence and does not want to let strangers into his life. It's difficult for such people for a long time be subordinate, so they often find work with a flexible schedule, open their own business or engage in freelancing.

Signature enclosed in a circle

“Tactics” have a compact signature, i.e. people whose mind is directed to a specific type of activity. Such people make efficient and diligent workers. They think rationally, do not have their head in the clouds, and sensibly assess their strengths and capabilities. The sweeping signature belongs to major executives and public figures who belong to the “strategists”. They think globally and do not go into details, looking at the situation as a whole.

An important step is to compare the length of the signature with the author’s last name. A person who has a short last name but a long signature is characterized by high self-esteem and ambition. He may be disdainful of people who are lower than him in status or financial situation.

If a person has a long last name, but he prefers to limit himself to only initials or a capital letter with a flourish, this means that he underestimates his merits and suffers from excessive self-criticism. His modesty sometimes reaches the point of timidity, and low self-esteem does not allow him to realize his full potential. Such a signature may indicate a weakened physical condition.

Tilt and direction

Most signatures have a slight slant to the right - this is an indicator of a calm and balanced character. A slight tilt of the letters to the left indicates willfulness, desire for independence, distrust and demandingness. Such people are accustomed to swimming against the current. A direct tilt speaks of the owner’s stubbornness and rationality. It is difficult to convince him of something, but he rarely makes mistakes because he does not follow his emotions.

The direction of the signature indicates the author’s optimism or pessimism and describes his inner mood:

Description	Example
The signature, written with an upward desire, speaks of the author’s optimistic attitude, his energy, self-confidence and desire to achieve his goals. Such a person does not give in to difficulties, he always finds the strength to gather his courage and start all over again.
The author of the downward-looking signature is the complete opposite: he is a pessimist by nature, has low self-esteem, does not believe in a successful outcome and constantly doubts his abilities. Such people have a desire to drown out failures and sorrows with alcohol, so they need to learn to control their emotions and engage in self-development
A straight, even signature without much downward or upward slant indicates a balance between optimism and pessimism. Such a person is distinguished by restraint, consistency, good self-control, balance
The wavy signature in the shape of a half-arc belongs to a flexible, diplomatic person who can easily adapt to changes and new living conditions. Most often, such people are sanguine by temperament, less often - phlegmatic Start and end of signature Of particular importance in deciphering a signature is its beginning and end. Mentally, you need to divide the stroke in half and pay attention to the workload of the first and second parts: 1. If at the beginning of the signature there are 2 or 3 large capital letters with no large elements at the end and in the middle, then the person gives preference to mental work and is more of a theorist than a practitioner. 2. If the signature is not overloaded at the beginning, begins with one capital letter of moderate height, then its author gravitates towards applied activities. Such signatures can often be seen among public figures and employees. 3. A signature with small elements at the beginning and large formations at the end indicates that the person gives preference to practical activities. 4. The elongated beginning of the signature, which is difficult to read, indicates despotism, willfulness, and reluctance to allow strangers. Similar signatures are found among officials and tough leaders. Examples of signatures with an extended beginning The more overloaded a signature is, the more accustomed a person is to “making mountains out of molehills.” A simple and concise signature indicates that its author does not like to complicate life for himself and others. Amplitude If the amplitude of the signature decreases from beginning to end (i.e., it begins with capital letters and ends with small ones), this indicates that a person begins any task with enthusiasm and inspiration, but in the process of work his performance decreases and his activity decreases. The author of such a signature gets tired quickly, “burns out” at work, and therefore needs timely rest and recuperation. He can be a little secretive and reserved, but he knows how to keep secrets. The owner of a signature with an increase in amplitude from beginning to end is able to develop his activity in the process of work, but at the initial stage it can be difficult for him to gather his strength. Such a person is characterized by excessive talkativeness, so he cannot keep other people's secrets. Reducing amplitude is in the caption on the left, increasing it is on the right The golden mean is letters that are even, identical in size, without a significant increase or decrease in amplitude. Such a person is stable in his activities, reasonable, and knows how to build harmonious relationships with others. And a little about secrets... The story of one of our readers Alina R.: I was especially depressed about my weight. I gained a lot, after pregnancy I weighed as much as 3 sumo wrestlers together, namely 92 kg with a height of 165. I thought the belly would go away after giving birth, but no, on the contrary, I began to gain weight. How to cope with perestroika hormonal levels and obesity? But nothing disfigures or makes a person look younger than his figure. In my 20s, I first learned that fat girls they call it “WOMAN” and that “they don’t make these sizes.” Then at the age of 29, divorce from my husband and depression... But what can you do to lose weight? Laser liposuction surgery? I found out - no less than 5 thousand dollars. Hardware procedures - LPG massage, cavitation, RF lifting, myostimulation? A little more affordable - the course costs from 80 thousand rubles with a nutritionist consultant. You can, of course, try to run on a treadmill until you go crazy. And when will you find time for all this? And it's still very expensive. Especially now. That's why I chose a different method for myself...